Are you one of those who hears “daylight saving time” and thinks, “I lose an hour of sleep?”
Just talking about it can bring anxiety to some who feel entirely thrown off because of the time change.
At 2 a.m. Sunday, the clocks will spring forward one hour, marking the start of the time change known as daylight saving time for most states. Turning the clocks forward allows our daylight to shift later into the evening.
BILL TO MAKE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME PERMANENT REINTRODUCED IN SENATE
To help bring some ease before Sunday, experts said you should prepare now before the time changes.
“We still have a couple of days to change our sleeping habits, because as we know, this is all about the circadian rhythm, and it’s based on a 24-hour basis,” psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere said.
It’s about the light and the darkness, too. And when those things begin to change, our hormones start to change.
“It really does throw us off,” Gardere said.
TIME ZONE DEBATE HITS THE MOON; WORLD ASKS WHAT TIME IS IT REALLY ON THE LUNAR BODY?
The transition is not just about the adults. Everyone in the family will go through the time change, and there are impacts on children.
“They’re going to be thrown off by it, to0 … And if it throws them off, it’ll throw them off at school where they’re going to be a bit deregulated,” Gardere said.
A CHANGE TO PERMANENT DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME WOULD REDUCE DEER COLLISIONS, STUDY SAYS
Parents can prepare their kids for the time change by bettering their nutrition to help re-regulate their bodies.
“Lighter meals for a few days. That is very important,” Gardere said.
And when it comes time for bedtime, the TV should not be on because the light will keep them up even later.
“They’re going to be tired much earlier. That we already know,” Gardere said.
But putting your kids or yourself to bed sooner depends on how our bodies regulate energy. Gardere advises parents should let their kids find their circadian rhythm because they’re much more resilient.
So maybe this just all comes down to a little extra snuggle time, which is suitable for everyone.